The sad truth is that not only were the teams met at the ground by 2 full scale football matches on either side of the pitch but the local knowledge that they would dissipate by 3.30pm was tempered by the even sadder realisation that no match could go ahead there anyway as the pitch - newly laid in March for £7.5k had been irreparably scorched & damaged as a motorbike had been set alight on it the previous evening.

Will funds be available to replace it ? Who knows. Islington CC who are the primary users only use it for practice on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays with "home" matches already having been rearranged to Calthorpe's ground as the outfield had been prepared pre-season & deemed as too dangerous for their youth XIs. What happens next ?

QUOTES FROM THOSE WHO WERE THERE

Adrian Duthie "bloody annoying about sunday - a waste of an afternoon! hey ho. i asked the groundsman/attendant to save what he could of the old carpet. he is going to roll it up and leave it in the store room when they relay the new pitch. might come in handy at a later date. you never know!"

Dan Bird "Sunday was a disppointment. 2006 season has had its share of interruptions but a barbecued pitch takes the cake.

Mike Alexander "Arrived at Wray Crescent after seeing the boys win at Lords to hopefully catch the last twenty overs - that is if you haven't totally given up on time games!! and saw the devastation.Despite cricket's new found popularity - it still faces many competing activities - some unsavoury like motorcycle
burning!"